On Tap from the Pub

By Tom Field

Executive Summary:

Staycations are easy when you live in a great place.

Get away. Here

First of all, I’m gonna take a vacation. I’m gonna get out of here. At least for a week. At no point in my lifespan have I ever not taken a vacation—even at times when I was so financially strapped, we did the multiple day-trips to Virginia State Parks. Delightful and memorable, by the way.

The “get out of here” mantra is simply for the spiritual replenishment one gets from a simple change of scenery. And the absence from day-to-day affairs that hit us when you don’t exit your zip code (plus the dozen or so around you).

But as our electric bill now hits $550 and gas exceeds $4 a gallon and inflation easily blows past double-digits and travel expenses are twice what they were just a year ago… I’m remarkably reminded of how beautiful it is this place where we live (!). Perhaps we’ll add more staycations to our summer getaways. It is August. Better hop on them.

First stop: Visit Virginia’s Blue Ridge. Now there’s a repository of all things recreational and regional. The state’s tourism resources are fine, too—but VVBR (visitroanokeva.com) offers a nice compilation of all the best short-drivable ideas right here and now.

You might be surprised at the plethora of staycations that are entertaining and can provide a lifetime of memories with your family and loved ones. Staycations can be crafted around events or experiences or environment. Three Es that you can EEEase on through without a lot of hassle.

EVENTS.

Festivals, fairs, and all sorts of gatherings are quite plentiful in Virginia’s Blue Ridge August. See a concert you like and tie a few days around it so you’re not rushing to and fro. Go to an event or even a trade-type conference where ideas, hobbies, and interests you appreciate are shared. Music, motorcycles, animals, food, culture, arts, sports—you name it; it’s all within a 100-mile radius.

EXPERIENCES.

Well, this part of Virginia certainly has its share of the great outdoors. Canoeing, kayaking, hiking, biking, boating, sailing, skiing, swimming, climbing, shooting, fishing, running, four-wheeling—all here. Just sitting lakeside, riverside, mountain side is perfectly suitable, too. Eateries, wineries, breweries, distilleries—one could spend plenty of time just doing a circuit tour of these sites and agritourism opportunities. Inside we have our museums and small town boutique shops, to name a few possibilities.

ENVIRONMENT.

A lot of us forget that a great getaway can involve just kicking back at a unique or special place. We have some